North Dakota Spirit campaign tops $324 million in final tally

The Alumni Association & Foundation (UND AA & F) is thrilled to announce its multi-year fundraising campaign has ended with a final tally of $324,128,078. It is by far the largest fundraising campaign ever undertaken in North Dakota.

North Dakota Spirit | The Campaign for UND passed its goal of raising $300 million for UND’s passionate students, inspirational educators, innovative programs, and extraordinary places in February. At the Spirit Celebration in the Chester Fritz Auditorium Oct. 11, the final number was revealed to an enthusiastic crowd of students, alumni, faculty, staff, and donors.

The North Dakota Spirit Campaign is already impacting the University of North Dakota, and will benefit UND well into the future. Some changes from the start of the Spirit Campaign in 2005:
• The UND AA&F endowment has more than doubled to $162 million.
• 440 endowment funds have been added, a 50 percent increase.
• Endowments impacting educators have tripled to $30 million.
• Scholarship endowments have doubled to $60 million.
• The annual scholarship payout has increased from $2 million to more than $5 million.
• Overall annual support to UND rose from $5.8 million in FY05 to nearly $15 in FY13.

“What has been accomplished with the Spirit Campaign is having a significant impact on UND students and the entire campus,” said DeAnna Carlson Zink, incoming executive vice president and CEO of the UND AA & F. “Through increased scholarships, endowments and building projects, the campaign will continue to be a game-changer for UND and its student for generations to come.”

Tim O’Keefe, executive vice president and CEO of the UND AA & F, admitted that many people thought the $300 million goal was a bit crazy. But O’Keefe said he was confident in the generosity of UND alumni and friends, and the final tally is a testament to their North Dakota spirit. “Before the start of this campaign, our organization was fundraising about $6 million to $7 million
annually,” O‘Keefe said. “Now, in collaboration with UND leadership, we expect to continue the campaign pattern of $40 million to $50 million each year as we go forward. North Dakota Spirit set a new bar for our organization.”

More than 38,000 UND alumni, friends and businesses made gifts to UND through the North Dakota Spirit Campaign. The campaign finished strong with 13,830 gifts in fiscal year 2013, a new record.

“Every college and unit at UND is committed to a shared vision that will contribute to the growth of the state of North Dakota,” said President Robert Kelley. “Your support of this campaign has given us an opportunity to move UND — and North Dakota — from great to Exceptional.”